Walking doll with ambulatory traction-drive mechanism



Dec. 23, 1969 s. Rossms 3,484,933

WALKING DOLL WITH AMBULATORY TRACTION-DRIVE MECHANISM Filed May 22, 19672 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2 ea

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United States Patent 3,484,988 WALKING DOLL WITH AMBULATORY TRACTION-DRIVE MECHANISM Saul Robbins, 35 Mountain Way, West Orange, NJ. 07052Filed May 22, 1967, Ser. No. 640,278 Int. Cl. A6311 33/26, 11/14 US. Cl.46-247 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A doll or other mobile toyis made to appear to walk by means of a pivoted traction mechanismwithin each foot and projecting downwardly. The mechanism has a drivemeans causing it to oscillate with a forward and backward motion, thetwo feet alternating. The mechanism is extended downwardly when movingbackward, causing the doll to move forward; it is retracted when movingforward. The legs do not move relative to the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various mechanisms have been used in thepast. These have included dolls designed to have the legs flex orotherwise move, the use of partially hidden wheels, or the like. Ingeneral, these have been complex, and therefore expensive, or havelacked the desired realism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mobile toy andtraction mechanism therefor.

More particularly, this invention relates to a mobile toy having a bodyportion having connected leg members and each of said leg members has aconnected foot portion characterized therein that each foot portion isprovided with an opening formed in the bottom thereof, a tractionmechanism pivotally mounted in each foot portion adjacent the openingfor alternate arcuate movement between a position protracting slightlythrough the opening in said foot and a position of retraction withinsaid opening for imparting an intermittent traction to said foot portionover a supporting surface, a drive means mounted in said body portion,and an interconnecting linkage connecting said traction mechanism tosaid drive means whereupon actuation of said drive means effects saidalternate protraction and retraction of said traction mechanism forimparting mobility to said toy.

The drawings FIGURE 1 illustrates a side elevation view of a walk ingdoll with portion broken away for illustrating the traction mechanism ofthis invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation view of the doll having parts thereofbroken away to illustrate the traction mechanism and drive therefor.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view of the foot portion of the dollillustrating the traction mechanism in a normal, inoperative position.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG- URE 3, butillustrates the relative position of the component parts of the tractionmechanism at the initiation of its movement toward a position oftraction.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG- URES 3 and 4, butillustrates the relative position of the component parts of the tractionmechanism as it imparts a traction movement to the dolls foot.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a view similar to view 3, 4 and 5, but illustratingthe traction mechanism at the end of its traction stroke.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 6, but illustrating therelative relationship of the component parts ice of the tractionmechanism at an intermediate position on the return non-tracting strokeof the traction mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a detail side view of the' oscillating carrier of thetraction mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the carrier of FIGURE 8. FIGURE 10 is an endview of the carrier of FIGURE 8. FIGURE 11 is a detail side view of thetraction shoe. FIGURE 12 is a right end view of the traction shoe ofFIGURE 11.

Detailed description In the drawings there is shown the application ofthe traction mechanism of this invention as utilized in a walking doll21. The doll 21 comprises essentially of a main body portion 22 having ahead 23, arms 24 and legs connected thereto. The head 23, arms 24 andlegs 25 are preferably connected to the body of the doll for relativemovement thereto. Accordingly the head 23 is rotatably connected to theneck portion of the doll for relative rotation with respect to the bodyso that a child can twist the head from side to side. Such connectionmay be formed in any well known manner. The arms 24 are also rotatablyconnected in suitable arm sockets 24A formed in the upper part of thebody. The legs 25 are rotatably connected in appropriate sockets 25Aformed in the lower portion of the body. In the illustrated form of theinvention the lower leg portions 25B need not be articulated at the knee26 to the upper or thigh portion 25C of the leg.

In the bottom or sole portion 27 of the respective feet there is formedan opening 28 which is operatively related to the traction mechanism 20of this invention.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 through 7 a traction mechanism 20 is disposedin each of the respective dolls feet. Each such traction mechanism 20includes an oscillating carrier 30 which is pivotly journalled about apivot pin 31, the ends 31A, 31B of which are suitably journalled inappropriate bearings 32 formed integral in the opposed side portions ofthe dolls foot. As shown, the carrier 30 is formed of a molded plasticpart in which the pivot pin 31 is integrally formed therewith. Extendinglaterally to one side of the carrier 30 and disposed on either side ofthe pin 31 are pins 33 and 34. A stop abutment 35 also extendslater-ally to one side of the carrier 30.

The traction mechanism 20 also includes a traction shoe 36 which has aconnected hub 36B by which it is pivotally mounted on pin 34 of thecarrier for relative movement with respect to the carrier 30. As bestseen in FIGURES l1 and 12, the shoe portion 36A is provided with afriction surface 37. In the illustrated embodiment the friction surface37 comprises a small endless band of friction material, as for example,rubber, which is stretched about a holding flange 38 extending laterallyof the traction shoe. To further enhance traction, as will behereinafter described, the elastic or rubber band may be provided withtransversely extending ridges 37A.

Connected to the shoe 36 and extending laterally therefrom is an arm ofextension 39 which is preferably weighted at the free end thereof with asuitable weight 40 which normally tends to bias the traction shoe 36 bygravity toward the stop abutment 35 of the carrier 30.

A drive mechanism 41 for effecting actuation or oscillation of thecarrier 30 during operation of the respective traction mechanisms 20 isdisposed within the body portion 22 of the doll. As shown, a.substantially U- shaped bracket 42 with connected upright side-formingtabs 43 is secured in the hollow of the dolls body adjacent the lowerportion thereof for supporting the drive mechanism 41. The drivemechanism 41 comprises an electric motor '44 which is suitably supportedbetween opposed front'and rear portions 42A, 42B of the U- shapedbracket 42 with connected upright side-forming of the motor 44, which isjournalled on the front 42A of the bracket 42, is a gear 46. Gear 46 inturn is connected into meshing relationship with a driven gear 47connected on the end of a shaft 48 rotatably journalled between thefront and rear portions 42A, 42B of the bracket 42. Intermediate theends of the shaft 48 driven by the driven gear 47 is a worm 49, which inturn is disposed into meshing relationship with a gear 50 fixed to ashaft 51 rotatably journalled between the opposite side tabs 43 of thebracket 42. Connected to the extended ends of the shaft 51 are a pair ofeccentrics 52', 53. Each eccentric 52, 53 has laterally extending pin52A, 53A disposed in out-of-phase relationship by substantially 180.Each of the respective eccentrics 52, 53 in turn is operativelyconnected to its associated traction mechanism by an interconnectinglinkage 55 or 54. As shown, one end of each linkage is provided with ahub 56 which is pivotally connected to the projecting pin 33 of thecarrier 30, and the other end of the respective linkages 54, 55 isconnected by a pin of its respective eccentric 52, 53 by a slot 57formed in the other end thereof. Thus, the pin and slot connectionbetween the linkage 54, 55 and the eccentric 52, 53 permits limited lostrnolion therebetween to occur during operation of the traction mechanism20, as will be hereinafter described.

A spring 58 is provided for normally biasing the carrier and tractionshoe 36 carried thereon toward a normal retracted inoperative positionas evidenced in FIG- URE 3. One end 58A of the spring 58 is held againstabutment 59 and the other end 58B of spring 58 is biased against pin 33.An intermediate part of spring 58 is coiled about pivot pin 31.

Power for energizing the electric motor -44 comprises a battery which issuitably wired in circuit with the motor. Preferably the power source orbattery is carried in a battery housing 60 formed in an internal portionof the dolls body 22. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the end of the batteryhousing 60 opens in the back of the doll, and a suitable cover orclosure 61 secures the battery within the housing 60 in circuit with amotor 44. A suiable switch 62 is provided for making and breaking thecircuit to the motor 44. The switch comprises essentially of a slidingcontact which connects one of the battery terminals into and out ofcircuit with contact 63 which is connected by a wire conductor 64 to oneof the motor terminals. The other .motor terminal is connected by a wireconductor 65 to a contact 66 in circuit with the other electrode of thebattery.

Operation With the component parts of the mechanism thus described, theoperation of the device is as follows:

When the switch 62 is closed and the circuit to the motor 44 energized,the eccentrics 52 and 53 connected to the ends of shaft 51 are drivenwith a rotary movement through the activating gear train 46, 47, 49, 50.The connecting links 54, 55 thus connected to each of out-of-phase pins52A and 53A have imparted thereto an alternating reciprocating orup-and-down movement. As is evident in FIGURES 3 through 7, therespective reciprocating movements of the linkages 54, 55 impart analternating oscillating movement to their respectively connectedtraction mechanisms 20.

In accordance with this invention the oscillation of the respectivetraction mechanisms 20 is such that the upward movement of the connectedlinkage 55, as seen in FIGURE 4, will effect displacement of the carrier30 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 31 as indicated by arrow A.Upon the initial displacement of the carrier 30 about pivot 31, theabutment engages the traction shoe 36, as seen in FIGURE 4, therebydriving the trac- 4, tion shoe in the same direction as the carrier 30,as indicated by arrow B. As the linkage 55 is reciprocated toward theupper dead center travel of the associated eccentric 53, the shoe isdriven through its traction stroke as evidenced in FIGURE 4. Theradiusof travel which pin 34 makes about pivot 31 as the carrier 30 isdisplaced on the upward movement of link 55 is such that the frictionsurface 37 of the traction shoe 36 will project. slightly beyond theopening 38, as seen in FIGURE 4, thereby causing the associated foot ofthe doll to rise slightly above the supporting surface 70. In doing so,the traction effected by the traction shoe against surface 70 will causethe associated leg of the doll to be advanced an incremental amount inthe opposite direction of the traction stroke of the traction shoe 36 asindicated by arrow C. At the end of the traction stroke, FIGURE 6, itwill be observed that the traction shoe 36 and the carrier which drivesthe same through the traction stroke are retracted within the foot ofthe doll, causing the foot to come to rest on surface 70.

On the downward displacement of the reciprocating linkage 55 the carrier30 is oscillated in the opposite direction, i.e. counterclockwise aboutpivot 31 in FIG URE 7.

The return movement of the carrier is influenced both by the downwarddisplacement of the linkage 55 and the spring 58 acting thereon.However, on the return stroke of the carrier 30, the traction shoecarrier thereon, in returning to the position of FIGURE 3, will pivotrelative to the carrier or lag the carrier thereby resulting in a lostmotion which will prohibit the traction shoe from tracting on surface 70during the return stroke. Thus, on the return of the carrier 30 andassociated traction shoe 36, the latter is at all times maintained in aretracted, non-tracting position within the foot of the doll. This isrendered possible for the reason that the stop abutment 35 functions asa drive in one direction only. On the return stroke the drive betweenthe carrier abutment 35 and the shoe 36 is disengaged as the linkagebottoms. In doing so, the lost movement or lag of the shoe 36 relativeto the carrier 30 on the return stroke of the traction mechanism causesthe friction surface 37 of the traction shoe 36 to be maintained in aretracted position, causing it to pass over the surface 70 withouteffecting any traction thereon. The lost motion effected by the relativelag or oscillating movement between the carrier 30 and the traction shoe36 carried thereon, on the return stroke of the carrier is renderedpositive by the relative lost motion permitted by the pin and slotconnection between the linkage 55 and its associated eccentric as thepin 55A bottoms. By weighing the traction shoe 36 as indicated by Weight40, the shoe 36 will tend to assume its normal position, on the returnstroke of the carrier 30, as indicated in FIGURE 3, by gravity.

Since the respective eccentrics 52, 53 are arranged in out-of-phaserelationship by approximately it will be noted that the respectivetraction mechanisms are alternately actuated. This is, as one tractionmechanism is being advanced through its traction stroke as hereindescribed, the traction mechanism in the other foot is being returned toits initial position in a non-tracting manner. The alternate periods oftraction thus effected by the respective traction mechanism will causefirst one foot to be raised and advanced an incremental amount while theother is supported on the surface 70. By alternate actuation of thetraction mechanisms, the respective feet will simulate a walkingcharacteristic to the doll.

A significant feature of the walking doll described is that theconstruction is such that a child may play with the doll in the usualmanner, taking advantage of all the movements permitted by therespective doll appendages without adversely affecting the walkingmechanism of the doll. Whenever the child desires to utilize the doll asa walking doll, she merely has to straighten the legs of the doll sothat the doll can stand unsupported in an upright position on asupporting surface. Upon energizing the motor circuit by closing theswitch, the motor is actuated thereby causing the respective tractionmechanisms as herein described to be alternately oscillated foreffecting incremental movement of the dolls feet over a supportingsurface.

While the instant traction mechanism has been described in conjunctionwith a walking doll, it will be readily understood that the tractionmechanism may be applied to the body of any animated or inanimate devicesuch as a toy vehicle or the like to effect mobility thereof over asuitable surface. Therefore, variations and modifications of thisinvention may be made without departing from the spirit or scopethereof.

I claim:

1. A mobile toy having a body portion having fixedly connected legmembers and each of said leg members having a connected foot portion,each foot portion being provided with an opening formed in the bottomthereof, a traction mechanism pivotally mounted in each foot portionadjacent the opening for alternate arcuate movement between a positionprojecting slightly through the opening in said foot and a position ofretraction within said opening for imparting an intermittent traction tosaid foot over a supporting surface, a drive means mounted in said bodyportion, and an interconnecting linkage con meeting said tractionmechanism to said drive means whereupon actuation of said drive meanseffects said alternate projection and retraction of said tractionmechanism for imparting mobility to said toy and causes said tractionmechanism to move backward relative to said foot portion when in saidprojected position allowing said foot portion to be pushed forward alongthe supporting surface.

2. The mobile toy as defined in claim 1 in which said drive meansincludes a motor means and an eccentric for each traction mechanismdrivingly connected to said motor means, and said linkage beingconnected to its eccentric whereby a reciprocal movement is imparted tosaid linkage as said motor means is actuated.

3. The mobile toy as defined in claim 2 in which said eccentrics aredisposed in out-of-phase relationship with respect to one another sothat the traction mechanism in one foot is retracting as the tractionmechanism in the other foot is projecting through its respectiveopening.

4. The mobile toy as defined in claim 1 in which said drive meansincludes an electric motor, a source of electrical energy and a circuitincluding a switching means connecting said motor to said source ofenergy.

5. The mobile toy as defined in claim 1 in which the traction mechanismof the respective foot portions includes an oscillating carrierpivotally mounted within the respective foot portions, a traction shoepivotally journalled on said carrier for relative oscillating movementthereto, the pivot of said traction shoe being eccentrically disposedwith respect to the pivot of said carrier, and said linkage having oneend thereof pivotally journalled to said carrier whereby the actuationof said drive means and connected linkage imparts a relative oscillatingmovement of said carrier and traction shoe carried thereon whereby saidtraction shoe is alternately projected and retracted through saidopening as it oscillates relative to said oscillating carrier.

6. The mobile toy as defined in claim 5 in which said carrier includes astop abutment for engaging said traction shoe in effecting the drive ofsaid traction shoe through its projected position, as said carrier ispivoted in one direction, and whereby said traction shoe is free tooscillate relative to its carrier on the return of said carrier toeffect a relative lost motion therebetween thereby permits said tractionshoe to return without imparting a tractional force on a supportingsurface.

7. The mobile toy as defined in claim 5 in which a spring normallybiases said carrier toward its initial inoperative position.

8. The mobile toy as defined in claim 6 in which said traction shoe isweighted so as to be: biased by gravity toward said stop abutment.

9. The mobile toy as defined in claim 1 in which said toy is a walkingdoll.

10. The mobile toy as defined in claim 5 in which said traction shoeincludes a band of friction material to define the peripheral edgeadapted to frictionally engage the supporting surface over which saidtoy moves as said shoe is driven through its projected position.

11. A mobile toy having a body portion and base portion, a drive meansfor effecting the mobility of said toy over a supporting surface,characterized therein that said base portion is formed with an openingtherein, a traction mechanism disposed adjacent said opening, saidtraction mechanism including an oscillating carrier pivotally mountedwithin said base portion adjacent said opening, a traction shoepivotally mounted to said oscillating carrier for relative oscillationthereto, and a drive means connected to said carrier for effectingoscillation of said carrier and traction shoe carried thereby, wherebysaid shoe is driven by said carrier as said carrier and connected shoeare oscillated in one direction through a projected position relative tosaid opening and whereby said shoe is free to oscillate or lag relativeto said carrier upon the return stroke of said carrier to effect arelative lost motion therebetween.

12. A walking doll having a body portion having a head and leg membersconnected to said body, said leg members having a foot portion and amotor means disposed within the body portion of said doll, characterizedtherein that each foot portion is provided in the bottom thereof, atraction mechanism pivotally mounted in each foot portion, each of saidtraction mechanisms including an oscillating carrier pivotallyjournalled in each foot portion, a traction shoe pivotally journalled toits respective carrier for relative movement thereto, the pivot of saidshoe being offset relative to the pivot of said carrier whereby thepivot of said shoe travels in an are which is radius about the pivot ofsaid carrier, an abutment stop connected to said carrier, weight meansconnected to said shoe for biasing said shoe against said abutment stopby gravity, a spring normally biasing said carrier toward inoperativeposition, a linkage pivotally connected at one end to each of saidcarriers, an eccentric for each of said traction mechanisms connected indriving relationship to said motor means, said eccentrics being disposedin out-of-phase relationship, and said linkage having its other endoperatively connected to its respective eccentric whereby alternatereciprocating movement is imparted to said connecting linkage foreffecting outof-phase oscillation to the respective carrier andassociate shoes of said traction mechanism in each of said feet tosimulate a walking characteristic.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,038,275 6/1962 Curci 46-247FOREIGN PATENTS 9,767 4/ 1920 Great Britain. 531,549 2/1955 Italy.

ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 46-149 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 3,484,988 December 23, 1969 Saul Robbins It is certified thaterror appears in the above identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 52, "portion" should read portions Column 3, line 3,cancel "with connected upright side-forming" and insert Connected to thearmature shaft 45 line 45, "suiable" should read suitable Signed andsealed this 8th day of December 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. 4 E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

